Harris Law Firm PA
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Semi Truck Accident
Truck Accident Survivor Tips

Several drivers assume the Florida laws and compensation for incidents, wage loss, etc., are the same regardless of whether you're required in the automobile crash or a truck accident.

18 wheeler crash

Yet there are distinct differences involving the two and understanding them is crucial to protecting yourself for those who have been inside a truck crash. Here are some tips on dealing with insurance coverage, health care problems you should know in the event you or someone you know is involved in a truck accident:

Contact Police or Highway Patrol

Even if it truly is a minor incident, get in touch with local police, find healthcare providers as necessary, and document the truck-car accident. After any semi accident, the victim should make contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

Let First Responders Known If You Have Any Pains or Discomfort -- Regardless of How Minor They May Seem at the Scene

Be sure to report and document any minor discomfort that may well seem to be less important on the time in comparison to extra serious incidents.

Substantial personal injury is often masked early on, and failure to let others know -- especially law enforcement and emergency medical personnel -- at the scene, insurance companies will dispute the truck accident caused these injuries later on when the personal injury symptoms are full blown.

Obtain Witness Information

While it is important to obtain the info for any passengers and witnesses in the truck accident, it all depends on how you feel at the scene.

If witness details are not preserved in the scene, or if it's missing from the police investigation, then it can difficult to find later on. However, if you're seriously injured and need transport from the scene by EMS, then a personal injury lawyer at the Harris Law Firm will diligently investigate the trucking accident to identify any witnesses.

Notify your vehicle insurance company promptly

In Florida, there's a strict time limit to notify your very own insurance coverage firm of your truck accident, and to file an application to obtain compensation (personal injury protection insurance, or PIP benefits) for your health care bills up to $10,000.

Filing an application for PIP with your insurance carrier is essential for safeguarding your rights, even if your injuries do not seem to be severe in the short term.

You may want to consult experienced truck accident attorney at this stage, if you haven't already, because handling this process properly can be critical to ensuring prompt compensation, as well as properly fulfilling the requirements for your truck accident lawsuit.

There are several forms of no-fault injury compensation available from your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage:

  • payment of medical expenses caused by the truck crash
  • wage loss
  • household replacement providers (chores/help with children)
  • payment for mileage to and from health-related appointments
  • visiting nurses

The reality is, however, that all of the PIP benefits will probably be exhausted, or spent, paying for the hospital stay. The remaining bills will be your responsibility to pay. You may have health insurance which will cover these.

There is also a time limit to file a lawsuit next to the negligent driver's truck insurance coverage business. Moreover on the above deadlines, numerous vehicle insurance policies pose even more strict notification requirements, such notice for hit-and-run truck crashes.

Retain The Harris Law Firm

Retain an experienced personal injury attorney rapidly. Trucking businesses are required by federal and state law to keep records of safety inspections and drivers' hours. Since bad gear and driver fatigue trigger numerous truck accidents, these records could prove liability towards the trucking company.

But right after a certain period of time, trucking businesses by law can dispose of pre-trip inspection documents and log books. That's just one essential way that a truck crash is extremely different from a car accident.

It can be imperative that an knowledgeable truck accident lawyer be retained as soon as possible ahead of important records are intentionally (and legally) destroyed.

Check your vehicle insurance cover policy for uncoordinated benefits

It is essential to quickly review your car insurance coverage policy and any extra contractual coverage you may have. There could be some popular pitfalls and loopholes posed by some typical car insurance cover policies.

For example, some persons have lost thousands of dollars since they did not understand the interplay in between health insurance plans, managed care plans, and PIP. Many policies are coordinated, meaning that for those who have current health insurance, after a truck accident, your health insurance pays initial and your car insurance coverage pays the remaining balance, or vice versa, depending on the policy language.

With uncoordinated coverage, truck car accident victims may well be entitled to obtain a "double dip recovery" under the policy.

In no way sign a release or give statement to an insurance adjuster

Because it is widespread for trucking companies to send defense attorneys, investigators and insurance adjusters right away to the crash scene to lessen the company's liability, do not speak with them or sign anything.

Otherwise, you could unknowingly relinquish your rights or put your truck accident claim in jeopardy.

Never give statements to any truck crash promises adjuster and never sign a release or allow the adjuster to appear at the automobile injury - with no speaking to your own truck accident attorney first.

Merely tell the adjuster that you need to review the paperwork with your attorney and will get back to them with your response. Too many folks rush into signing adjusters' documents not having the language reviewed by an attorney.

Thus, they may well waive their right to sue the negligent truck driver as well as the trucking company for accident-related personal injury. Claims adjusters regularly try to get recorded statements early, aiming to minimize the incident victim's discomfort and incidents for later use in court.

Even limited property damage releases can contain unrelated language releasing all personal incidents suffered from the auto accident.

Injured in a Semi Accident?
Truck-Car Accident?
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Harris Law Firm PA

 

Injured in a truck accident, truck-car accident, or semi accident?  Contact the Harris Law Firm for a truck accident lawyer, personal injury lawyer, personal injury attorney, semi accident lawyer, trucking accident lawyer.

 

The truth is accident victims do have a choice in picking the right lawyer for your important case.  Don't delay, and don't make the wrong choice when hiring an accident lawyer.
 
Check our qualifications, and then contact us to represent you in your serious 18 wheeler accident injury claim.  Because we limit the number of clients, we provide truck accident claims with personal attention and service throughout the representation.


For dedication and experience, call the Harris Law Firm. We proudly serve clients throughout Florida, but our focus is on those who, like us, live here in Southwest Florida, including: Charlotte County, Collier County, Desoto County, Glades County, Hardee County, Hendry County, Highlands County, Lee County, Manatee County, Sarasota County.

 

We provide aggressive, prompt, and ethical advocacy on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered serious personal injury or wrongful death caused by a semi truck accident, truck crash, or tractor trailer accident.

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